Tokyo, City of Dreams/Permissive Zoning Policy (w/Joe McReynolds)

Joe McReynolds is co-author of a new book about how flexible micro-spaces create the spontaneity and vitality of Tokyo, and how so much the city is built on the often very niche dreams and passions of its citizens, and also slash-fan-fiction.

Cruises to deal with inflation and heat stroke.

Topics discussed on this episode include:

• What to remember about your successes or failures on the JLPT
• Bobby's continuing BBQ tribulations and the experience of working together as husband and wife
• The challenges of mass producing sauce
• Ollie's latest stand-up adventures and how things are finally looking up for him a bit
• Ollie's thoughts on therapy and clarity
• Gratitude for your continued patience and support
• Joe's book Emergent Tokyo: Designing the Spontaneous City
• How different zoning restrictions create kind of spaces/businesses that we're used to seeing in Japanese cities
• Japan's narrow, dingy, alleyways and how they became a vibrant part of city life
• The sheer massive NUMBER of drinking/dining establishments and how they're sustainable
• Barriers for opening restaurants in the states and UK, as opposed to Japan
• The difference between what people WANT to do, and what laws make it possible for people to do
• Weird business operations hours with Shimokitazawa as a test case
• Running a business versus doing something you enjoy with your life/time
• Which district of Tokyo does Joe find fascinating and what does the district teach us about the creation of real physical pockets of subculture
• How countries choose to restrict or not restrict people's creative endeavours
• Why Joe's background in National Security Analysis helped him tackle this topic
• How the cityscape of Tokyo is built out of people's dreams and allows for self-exploration
• The control that landlords/land-owners wield over the tone/vibe of the city and local economy
• How concern with property value affects possibility
• Bobby's experience with selling products out of his home kitchen and getting the permissions to do that/open a restaurant
• How much do we trust strangers with our (food) safety?
• Japanese reactions to food poisoning outbreaks when they happen and Japanese reactive policy in general
• Cultural essentialism?? Shokunin, Otaku, and Bukatsu

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Extras this time include conversations about:

• The Robot Restaurant
• Chinese Militarism and Security Policy
• AND SO MUCH MORE

Have something you'd like to say? Send us a fax at japanbyrivercruise.com

or Tweet to us at @jbrcpod

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Social Media Links:

Joe McReynold's Twitter | Emergent Tokyo: Designing the Spontaneous City

Ollie Horn: Twitter | Instagram

Bobby Judo: Twitter | Instagram | YouTube

Other things to click on

Some are affiliate links because we're sell-outs

• We record remotely using Squadcast and the podcast is hosted on Transistor. 
• Bobby uses the Samson Go Mic and Ollie uses the AT2005USB mic